Join us at Walsh Street for Material Worlds, a conversation exploring architecture through a time-based and ecological lens. We will be joined by Bronwen Main and Frank Burridge MAIN&FRANK and Andre Bonnice and Anna Jankovic Simulaa. This session reflects on material-driven approaches that situate architecture within broader environmental systems, from agricultural bio-regional thinking to embodied carbon and regenerative design. Drawing on research and practice, the speakers will present projects spanning domestic, public, and experimental work, including collaborations exploring hemp, earth, bamboo, and other bio-based materials. The discussion will consider how architects navigate testing, risk, and material specification, and how their decisions shape environmental outcomes. Grounded in practice, the evening reflects on the architect’s role as a mediator between materials, makers, and ecosystems.
MAIN&FRANK is a creative practice led by Bronwen Main & Frank Burridge. They test, seed and grow regenerative ideas through transdisciplinary projects across art, architecture, design, landscape, education and strategic masterplanning. They innovate with regenerative biomaterials—including hemp, straw and biochar—treating material practice as a platform for carbon storage, habitat creation, air-quality filtering, lifecycle design and climate-responsive performance. Their projects are designed not only to endure, but to improve over time through adaptation, care and ecological reciprocity—creating lasting benefits for communities, local economies and ecosystems.
Simulaa is an architectural practice established in Naarm by Andre Bonnice and Anna Jankovic. The work of the practice is defined by a considered analysis and a research-based approach that prioritises time-based design thinking. Their work spans a broad range of scales and contexts, exploring how architecture might respond and act in a world defined by environmental limits, interrelational systems, and layered temporalities.
This talk is a part of the series “new modes of practice.”
This event is generously supported by Brickworks Building Products, Konpira Maru Wines and Yumbo Soda.
Image: Butterfly House with Joost Bakker courtesy of MAIN&FRANK.